BOWDEN URBAN VILLAGE

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON (Croydon) (14:41): Premier, what news—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: Premier, what news of the Bowden Urban Village?

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:41): I thank the member. There is no-one in the history of this state who has doorknocked more in the western suburbs of Adelaide, in the history of this parliament, a fact that needs to be acknowledged. He was hoping to reach my vote in a series of elections but was unsuccessful in doing so. On the other matter, it is really important to recognise John Howard, Rob Kerin, John Olsen—

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: I rise on a point of order. The Premier continues to defy your ruling. The question from the member for Croydon was about a matter in his electorate, not about the Adelaide Oval. The Premier consistently tries to go to another topic, defying the ruling.

The SPEAKER: The Premier can answer as he chooses, and I am sure that he is getting back to whatever the question was.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: On 23 April I announced, with the Minister for Infrastructure, that the government had granted final approval for the Bowden Urban Village project. On that day, we released the plan for the entire 16 hectare development on the old Clipsal and Origin sites at Bowden and announced that the government would invest more than $264 million over the next decade to help deliver a high quality sustainable community on the city fringe. This expenditure will be recouped from the sale of land to private developers, with the site expected to generate $1 billion worth of investment before it is completed.

This development flags the beginning of a major transformation of Adelaide's metropolitan landscape and will set a new national benchmark for higher density community living. The Bowden Urban Village project will eventually provide over 2,200 dwellings for more than 3,500 people and will be a leading example of excellence in urban design, community development and environmental sustainability.

It will also provide opportunities for new and expanding businesses to locate, establish and operate. The project has an ambitious sustainability action plan including minimum five-star, green star ratings for almost all of the buildings, with 15 per cent of buildings seeking a higher six-star standard; a pilot tri-generation energy supply system to provide electricity, heating, cooling and hot water in the first stage; use of stormwater for a variety of non-potable uses including toilets, washing machines and irrigation; and a range of waste reduction management techniques.

The project aims to create a climate-smart precinct that demonstrates environmental sustainability, and we know that innovative technology, including building design, will be a crucial element in achieving that. The development will also provide a great sense of community life, with streets designed for people and bicycles and open spaces that are safe for families. It will be connected to the Parklands by—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: —a new pedestrian bridge that will be built over Park Terrace. A minimum of 12.5 per cent of the development will be open space—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Unley!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: —including 5,200 square metres set aside for Bowden Urban Village's main park, containing landscaped areas and a water feature. The government is also determined to make Bowden Urban Village a flagship for good urban design. Eminent architects will be charged with ensuring that the best standards are achieved, using a range of different building heights. This is a project that goes hand in hand with the government's multibillion dollar revitalisation of the public transport system, with an electrified Outer Harbor line running near the Bowden Urban Village development and, of course, the tram site nearby.

Why is this relevant to the Adelaide Oval redevelopment? It is because that site was actually picked by the Liberals as one of their sites for a stadium. So it is entirely relevant to discuss this in the context of a question about the Bowden development because, members opposite, it was like a mobile ambulance rather than a hospital when it came to the stadium—

Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order.

Mr WILLIAMS: Not only is this not relevant to the question, it has nothing whatsoever to do with anything the Liberal Party proposed. It is a complete fabrication.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is not suggesting that the Premier is misleading, is he?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Regarding the member for MacKillop's point of order, the Premier is drawing a very long bow, but it is relevant in the context of what he is saying.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: We have chosen this site not for a stadium; we have chosen it for the Bowden urban development, which will be a national template for sustainable living. However, we recognise that we are not alone in thinking that Adelaide Oval is a better site to have football played in the city, because we are supported by John Howard, we are supported by John Olsen, we are supported by Rob Kerin, we are supported by the member for Waite, we are supported by Alexander Downer—

The Hon. K.O. Foley: Chris Pyne.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: And Christopher Pyne. When you have that kind of support—well, I won't go where that is going. The point of the matter is: will the Leader of the Opposition listen to her predecessors, to their wise counsel, listen to those who actually achieved the highest office in this state, and put our city and state and footy and cricket first, rather than play games? However, let us get back to the Bowden development. The project will add a new vitality to what is currently—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: —a derelict industrial site. A home for thousands of people that is right on the city's doorstep, connected to the city and the port by public transport. The project reflects the government's commitment, as outlined in the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide, to support Adelaide's population and economic growth by revitalising some of Adelaide's inner suburban areas to make the most of existing infrastructure and transport links.

The first land sale to developers will commence later this year, with first construction of new dwellings expected to start next year. Over the next decade Bowden Urban Village will become a thriving, environmentally sustainable, well-designed community at our city's doorstep. Next stop: Tonsley development.